Domestic Violence Survivor Helping Other Victims

Friday, October 12th 2007, 5:30 pm

By: News On 6

Twenty-one thousand people in Tulsa call 911 every year because of domestic violence. Twenty-five people have died this year in domestic killings, seven of those in Tulsa. News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright reports the abuse often spills over to the children and can alter a life forever.

Nate Waters hasn't always been in a wheelchair. He grew up very poor in Chicago with a single mother and his sister. They moved to Tulsa, he dropped out of high school at 16-years-old and when he was 19, he and one of his mother's boyfriends, no longer got along.

"After being with my mom for a certain amount of time, he became very disrespectful, wasn't contributing to the household, others issues going on," domestic violence victim Nate Waters said.

It finally came to blows on April 18, 1997, the day Nate's life changed forever. His motherâ€™s boyfriend overpowered him and threw him to the floor, he landed on his head, and he lay there suffering for 12 hours.

"As I was begging for help, they walked back and forth, from the bedroom to the kitchen, fixing breakfast, talking on the phone, everything like that, while I'm laying face down on the carpet, trying to survive," said Waters.

His sister finally arrived and called 911. His mother is still with that boyfriend and Nate has largely been on his own. He'd always been a dreamer, so he got his GED, went to college and now works as an accountant at Williams companies. He also speaks about getting out of violent situations.

"If I'd had someone to go to, I would've gotten out of it,â€ said domestic violence victim Nate Waters. â€œI didn't know any better. How I was raised, what I grew up around, all my life, a lot of abuse and violence and poverty. If I knew better, I'd gotten out of the situation."

Nate says anything is possible with the right attitude, the right people around you and faith in God.

Nate did not pursue charges in his attack, something he now encourages others to do.

More than 60% of the children in abusive homes, are also abused. Domestic Violence Intervention Services can help men, women and children in abusive situations. You can contact them at 1-800-522-SAFE , in the Tulsa area call 918-585-3163. You can also visit their website, www.okdhs.org.

Watch the video: Domestic Violence Victim Speaks